Healthy Living – Cleaning Products

According to Robert Roundtree, MD, the average home contains 3-10 gallons of hazardous materials. The same products that we use to clean our homes can be toxic to our bodies.

What you can do:

Take an inventory of your home and all of the products that could be considered “toxic.” Be on the lookout for nontoxic alternatives for each one.

Choose household cleaning products that are chemical free. It is important that they are phosphate and chlorine-free as well. Phosphates can cause algae blooms in lakes and ponds.

Buy non-chlorine bleach. Chlorine bleach creates toxins that can be harmful to your health. In addition, chlorine fumes may be irritating to breathe for people with allergies and asthma.

Get rid of unwanted chemicals safely. Contact your local trash collection service to find out how to dispose of them properly. Never dump materials in the backyard.

If any toxic products do exist in the home, lock and store them in a place where children will not be able to reach them. Remember to lock up prescription, over-the counter medicines, supplements and herbal medicines as well.